Man Held In Stabbing Probe

A 43-year-old man was still being questioned by gardaí late last night about the murder of a 28-year-old Dublin woman.

She was stabbed to death in a house for the homeless in the capital.

The suspect, who was known to the victim, was arrested by detectives at the scene of the murder in Ranelagh Road, Ranelagh, on the southside of the city.

The victim, Rebecca Hoban, was a mother of one who lived in a flats complex in Mercer Street in the south inner-city.

She had paid several visits to the homeless centre, where she was friendly with one of the occupants.

Gardaí forensic officers yesterday carried out tests on a knife, which was recovered from the scene and believed to have been the murder weapon.

The detention period for the suspect, a UK national, was extended for a further 12 hours yesterday afternoon. He was being held for questioning at Donnybrook Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.

Gardaí said they were satisfied with the progress of their inquiries and were following a definite line.

(BMcC)